Vol 71 Issue 17

Rev. Dick is pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Lacombe, AB, Canada. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1, 2 Wherefore . ....

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregational Activities On May 2 the council of the Grandville, MI PRC brought a proposal to their congregation for adoption. The council, through its Long- Range Planning Committee, was looking for authorization to proceed with construction of a 3,900 square foot addition to their church. This proposed addition will include a large meeting room capable of seating 200 people around tables. The room will contain movable partitions, so that it can be divided into six classrooms. Also included in the proposed addition are a kitchen, a pastor’s...

The late Homer Hoeksema was professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. God’s Creation of Man: (4) Created God’s Covenant Friend It is very evident from Genesis 1:26 that there is a close relation between man’s being created in the image of God and his dominion over the earthly creation. According to this Word of God, we are informed that “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle, and over all the...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. The above admonition is a quote from Romans 11:20. In the context the apostle Paul is speaking about God’s sovereign purpose of predestination for both Jews and Gentiles as it is realized in the new dispensation. That this is the subject of Romans chapter 11 is evident from its opening verses. Paul in this chapter is explaining the truth that God will not cast away His people whom He foreknew. The reference is first of all to God’s Old Testament people, the Jews. In spite of the falling away...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Bauer, Michigan. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.  Psalm 127:4, 5 Often when we see a newborn child we are amazed. We can stare at them for hours as they lie sleeping. We consider with amazement how they existed inside the mother for nine months. Often it is remarked with awe as we watch their little nostrils flair slightly with each breath, that they lived for nine months without...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction In our last article, we left Samuel Rutherford busy with his work in the Chair of Divinity at St. Andrews College. Although he remained in that college the rest of his life, his work soon took him to London as a representative of the Scottish Churches on the Westminster Assembly. Work at Westminster When the Puritans in England gained the ascendancy in Parliament in England, they determined to bring true Presbyterianism to the entire realm. In order to accomplish this noble goal they called...

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *reprinted from Beacon Lights, February, March, and April, 1983. The Importance of Music in the Church The importance of music in the church is indicated when the apostle of Christ writes, in Colossians 3:16, that by our singing we teach and admonish one another. Probably this is not a familiar thought to us; perhaps we are not conscious of this when we sing. We are well aware, of course, that we all should teach each other, and admonish each other, as the opportunity or need arises (although...

Rev. Cammenga is pastorof Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. “The missionary work of the churches is regulated by the general synod in a mission order.” Church Order, Article 51

The synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC) will meet in Hull, IA this year, convening on Tuesday morning, June 13, God willing. The consistory of the Hull PRC will conduct a special, pre-synodical worship service on Monday evening, June 12. Rev. Ron Van Overloop, president of the 1994 synod, will preach the Word. Five ministers and five elders from each of the two classes of the denomination will deal with matters that could not be finished in the minor assemblies or that pertain to the churches of the major assembly, according to the rule of Article 30 of the...